Domestic PV module shipments in Japan hit 1.88 GW in Apr-Jun 2014

Sep 2, 2014 - Japan boosted the volume of the domestic photovoltaic (PV) module shipments to 1.88 GW during the first fiscal quarter through June, marking a 114% year-on-year hike, the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association said on Monday.

The data was collected from 39 Japanese solar equipment makers, among which Sharp Corp (TYO:6753) and Solar Frontier, part of oil group Showa Shell Sekiyu KK (TYO:5002).

Of the total, domestic shipments for non-residential projects jumped by 162% on the year to 1.39 GW, while shipments for residential rooftop systems increased by 86% to 493.5 MW. Shipments for utility-scale projects alone stood at 657.1 MW, up 145% in annual terms.

Japan introduced attractive feed-in tariffs for solar power in 2012 after the Fukushima disaster and later became one of the hottest solar destinations worldwide. The country installed about 7.36 GW of non-residential PV parks between July 2012 and April 2014 as compared to just 900 MW prior to the FiTs, while residential PV capacity additions were 2.21 GW, compared to 4.7 GW before July 2012. Overall, the total renewable energy generation capacity in the Asian country reached 9.77 GW since 2012, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) said in August.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!